Thursday, November 28, 2013

Most
stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration of the
pilgrims and the Indians that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they
did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local
Indians did participate, this "first Thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a
gathering. There is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to
our modern Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back
to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving
Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November ever since.

However,
since most school children are taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in
1621 with the pilgrims and Indians, let us take a closer look at just what
took place leading up to that event, and then what happened in the centuries
afterward that finally gave us our modern Thanksgiving.

The
Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were
originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had
earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to
escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance,
but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking
it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London
stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the
trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the
company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were
Separatists.

The
Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter
was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of
the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621
was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a
feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first
year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year
without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English
harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.
Governor
William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not
certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that
they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort
of wild fowl. Another
modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is
unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had
been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However,
they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from
their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was
no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was
still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include
fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
This
"thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many years passed
before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day
of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of that year the governing council
of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express
thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely
established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to
proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this
thanksgiving celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the
celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent
victory over the "heathen natives," (see the proclamation).
A
hundred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a
thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the
British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair. George
Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some
were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the
hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later,
President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.
It
was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to
what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her
cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's
Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters
to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863,
President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a
national day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving
was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple
of times, most recently by Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the
next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season.
Public uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving
back to its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was
finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourthThursday in November.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The largest Chanukah menorah in the Bronx was lit in the Riverdale section by Rabbi Levi Shemtov tonight. The menorah which stands in front of the Riverdale Bell Tower (West 239th Street & Riverdale Avenue) is lit with help from Con Ediison who provides a bucket truck to lift the Rabbi to the top of the menorah. This coming Sunday is the official public lighting with one of the local elected officials going up in the bucket truck with the Rabbi to light the menorah. Last year Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. had the honor of lighting the Riverdale menorah. This year while Mayor Elect Bill deBlasio has been invited to light the menorah Rabbi Shemtov said the back up menorah lighter would be Senator Jeff Klein or Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. Dinowitz has lit the menorah in the past while Senator Klein has not. Below are photos of the menorah being put up, in the afternoon before sundown, and after being lit by Rabbi Shemtov.

Left - Workers secure the base of the largest menorah in the Bronx.
Right - The menorah base is complete.

Left - The Con Edison bucket truck waits to lift Rabbi Shemtov to light the first light on the Riverdale Chanukah Menorah.

Right - People dance in glee as the start of Chanukah is minutes away.

Left - A side photo of the menorah.

Right - A front view of the menorah. The middle light is lit first then also one light from the right. On each of the next seven nights remaining of Chanukah another light is lit next to the one that was lit the night before.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The State Labor Department today released preliminary local area
unemployment rates for October 2013, which are calculated following
procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
state’s unemployment rate relies in part on the results of a telephone
survey of 3,100 households (out of more than 7 million) in New York
State.

It is a county by county look at unemployment numbers by the Department of Labor, Tompkins County once again has the lowest unemployment in the state,
with a rate of just 4.8 percent, while The Bronx has the highest, 12.2
percent. Brooklyn was the second highest borough in the city at 9.6 percent. New York City as a whole it is said has fallen from 9 percent to 8.9 percent, surrounding areas outside of New York City fared much better going from 8.3 percent to 7.8 percent unemployment. The New York State unemployment rate was listed at 7.5 percent.

The counties in New York State with the lowest unemployment rates include:

Tompkins County (4.8%)

Yates County (5.2%)

Hamilton County (5.3%)

Putnam County (5.5%)

Saratoga County (5.5%)

The counties in New York State with the highest unemployment rates include:

Bronx County (12.2%)

Kings County (9.6%)

Jefferson County (8.7%)

Orleans County (8.5%)

St. Lawrence County (8.3%)

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New
York and every other state are based on statistical regression models
specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most
up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of
residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market
regions, metropolitan areas, counties, and municipalities of at least
25,000.

Ornament
fragrant pine boughs with shiny foil, glittery beads and natural
objects like cones, dried herbs and spices. Tie up a small sachet to
create your own glowing, deliciously scented decoration. Free, and
admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, DECEMBER 14 TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet
like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle
movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class, Irving Yee,
a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School, introduces students to
the internal martial arts and promotes an awareness of its benefits.
Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration online only at www.wavehill.org.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, DECEMBER 14 COOKING DEMO: CULINARY CONIFERS

The
versatile conifers (pines, spruces, junipers and their kin) enhance our
winter landscape and provide flavorful accents for seasonal dishes.
With the Conifer Slope as a backdrop, Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day and a chef from Wave Hill exclusive caterer Great Performances reveal
the origin and history of some of our edible conifers. Sample delicious
coniferous recipes featuring juniper berries and pine nuts. Free with
admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM

SUN, DECEMBER 15 FAMILY ART PROJECT—BOUGHS AND BRANCHES FOR WINTER

Ornament
fragrant pine boughs with shiny foil, glittery beads and natural
objects like cones, dried herbs and spices. Tie up a small sachet to
create your own glowing, deliciously scented decoration. Free with
admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, DECEMBER 15 HATHA YOGA

Find
refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and
increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your
mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in
Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England,
and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Session fee:
$23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration online only at www.wavehill.org.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, DECEMBER 15 MEDITATION

This
fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner
self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in
simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by
Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration online only at www.wavehill.org.MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, DECEMBER 15 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, DECEMBER 16Closed to the public.

A
28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River
and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and
legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views,
and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs
in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.

ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day on Tuesdays in December. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

DIRECTIONS
– Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan,
Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate
and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242nd
Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available
for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with
continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot
and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Monday, November 25, 2013

The Community Board 8 Land Use Committee will be meeting on Monday December 9th starting at 7:30 PM at the Conservative Synagogue located 475 West 250th Street off the Henry Hudson Parkway service road north. On the agenda are two items.

1 - An enclosed sidewalk cafe for the Dale Restaurant located at 189 West 231st Street.

2 - A presentation by Simone Management of demolition, construction, and development plans of property located 3741 & 3735 Riverdale Avenue, and 3644 Oxford Avenue for a proposed 11 story medical facility with parking.

Here is an update with new photos of Con Edison's Gas Conversion work in Community Board 8. If you live on Cruger and Lydig Avenues, Creston Avenue by East 196th Street, and almost anywhere else there are apartment buildings that are converting from oil to gas for heating fuel Con Edison will be ripping up the streets in or around those new gas customers.

Note on the first two long photos there are still no notices anywhere.

This was Con Ed during last week at the corner of West 238th Street and Fieldston Road.

Here you can see that the Con Edison contractor has set up a tent because the construction area is so large on the corner of West 238th Street and Greystone Avenue. The stores on the street are down from 10% - 40%, as one owner says "The people can't get to my store".

This photo shows the rock that is below this street that has to be removed.

The same section with the new high pressure gas pipe.

This is the scene at a different location started after the Community Board 8 Traffic & Transportation meeting with Con Edison. Note that there are plenty of signs warning of the upcoming construction.

Here once construction has started metal plates are put over the opening in the roadway as soon as the work moves on.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

In response to the City Time verdicts, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement:

“These
verdicts send the right message to all who would think of defrauding
our taxpayers that there will be a heavy price to pay. Let the CityTime
scandal also serve as a sobering reminder that City Hall must tightly
manage outside consultants, because when projects run years late and
over budget by 1,000 percent, criminality on top of massive waste
becomes that much less surprising.”

Friday, November 22, 2013

Assemblyman Mark
Gjonaj invites you to the 101st Anniversary Celebration of Albanian
Independence, taking place on Sunday, November 24, 2013 from 12-5pm on Pelham
Parkway South between Wallace & Holland Avenues.

The day will feature live entertainment, food
samplings, traditional performances, and many more festivities!

The official Flag Raising Ceremony will be at 2pm.

For more information, please contact Assemblyman
Gjonaj’s office at 718-409-0109.

Con Edison is currently
installing 51 high grade utility poles that can withstand 110 mph and
will have switching equipment to prevent future power outages and
falling lines, as requested by Council Member Oliver
Koppell.

Because of the severe
power outages experienced by people in the community during Hurricane
Sandy, Koppell held a series of meetings with Con Ed representatives to
explore ways to improve the reliability of the
greater Riverdale power grid during inclement weather.

Subsequent to the
meetings, Con Ed revealed its plan to cut the Riverdale Loop, comprised
of 7.3 miles of service, into two smaller loops, which will shield each
section from events that occur in the other area,
making each section more reliable and resulting in quicker
restorations.

By the end of December,
Con Ed will have completed installing the new poles throughout the
Riverdale area and in parts of Kingsbridge. Once the poles are
installed, Con Ed expects to make the
switch off during the first quarter of 2014. The Riverdale Loop, where
everything in Riverdale is connected, will now be split into two
separate loops with a Riverdale Loop and a Palisade Loop.

“I am still hopeful
that Con Ed will find a way to bury the exposed power lines, which are
the cause of many storm-related outages. However, since we are being
told that future storms are
inevitable, I am pleased that the changes Con Edison is currently
making will reduce the number of power malfunctions in the community,” Koppell said.

Editor Note - How about the mess that Con Edison or should I say their
contractor has done to West 238th Street only three blocks away from
Councilman Koppell's district office on the high pressure gas line installation. People have been told by the
contractor " What do you want, this is the Bronx". Also go into any nearby business and see what this has done to their business.

Senator Klein said: “At this time of year, I think it’s
important to not just give thanks, but also to give back to the community. I am
proud to give turkeys to local residents who may not otherwise be able to have
a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year. In this spirit, I wish each and
every member of our community a happy and healthy holiday season.”

Senator
Klein with residents from Throggs Neck Houses before giving out turkeys donated by Klein.

Wave
Hill offers the perfect antidote to very commercialized year-end cycle
of holidays, from a month’s worth of Family Art Projects that manage to
combine utility with inspiration, to a weekend devoted to DIY projects
that let you focus on crafting charming, naturally inspired tokens for
those you love. Remember when the holidays were pure fun?

SAT, SUN, DECEMBER 7, 8 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND

Drop by this weekend to create your own gifts and holiday decorations inspired by the gardens and galleries at Wave Hill. Children eight and older welcome with an adult. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SAT, DECEMBER 7 FAMILY ART PROJECT—SEASON’S GREETINGS

See
the inspiring signs of fall shifting to winter at Wave Hill. Draw your
own cold-weather tales in surprise, pop-up holiday cards that come alive
with scenes of the season. Free, and admission to the grounds is free
until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SAT, DECEMBER 7 TAI CHI CHUAN

Quiet
like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle
movements based on images found in nature. In this beginner-level class,
Irving Yee, a member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School,
introduces students to the internal martial arts and promotes an
awareness of its benefits. Winter sessions are held indoors.
Registration opens online—and onsite at the Perkins Visitor
Center—starting November 15. (Reservations may not be made by
telephone.) Online registration closes off the Friday before each
session. Cancellations must be made by 3PM the Friday before; after
that, refunds will not be made. Drops-ins will be accommodated as the
limited space permits. Participants must present a Member’s ID card or a
printed program registration form at the front gate. Session fee:
$25/Wave Hill Member $15.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11AM

SAT, DECEMBER 7 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: MINIATURE ARRANGEMENTS

Fashion
a quartet of sweet miniature arrangements in tiny containers using
fresh greens, pinecones and other natural materials. Give your
arrangements as gifts, or enjoy them on your own holiday table. Creative
guidance offered by Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer. Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SAT, DECEMBER 7 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: NATURAL WREATHS & SWAGS

Craft
one-of-a-kind holiday decorations using fresh greens harvested from
Wave Hill’s gardens. Each participant designs a verdant wreath or swag
accented with natural materials and elegant accessories. Horticultural
Interpreter Charles Day demonstrates simple floral techniques and provides plenty of materials to fuel your creative spirit. Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SAT, DECEMBER 7 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: FELT TREASURE BOX

Hand-stitch a cozy felt box with a lid to hold your holiday trinkets and treasures. Artist Maria Hupfield assists
participants in crafting a small box using a combination of industrial
grey and color felt pieces. Personalize your box using colorful thread,
ribbons and other embellishments. An excellent gift for all ages! Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $20/$10 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 BIRDING WALK

Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes
his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these
captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson
River flyway provides the perfect habitat for native and migrating
birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. For weather-related updates call 718.549.3200 x 245 by 8AM
the day of the walk. Free with admission to the grounds. (NYC Audubon
Members enjoy two-for-one admission.) Registration recommended, online
at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718549,3200 x251.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 FAMILY ART PROJECT—SEASON’S GREETINGS

See
the inspiring signs of fall shifting to winter at Wave Hill. Draw your
own cold-weather tales in surprise, pop-up holiday cards that come alive
with scenes of the season. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 HATHA YOGA

Find
refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga. Decrease stress and
increase your energy by focusing on your posture, your breath and your
mind/body/spirit. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in
Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation, England,
and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. All levels welcome. Session fee:
$23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration online only at www.wavehill.org.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10‒11:15AM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: MINIATURE ARRANGEMENTS

Fashion
a quartet of sweet miniature arrangements in tiny containers using
fresh greens, pinecones and other natural materials. Give your
arrangements as gifts, or enjoy them on your own holiday table. Creative
guidance offered by Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer. Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: NATURAL WREATHS & SWAGS

Craft
one-of-a-kind holiday decorations using fresh greens harvested from
Wave Hill’s gardens. Each participant designs a verdant wreath or swag
accented with natural materials and elegant accessories. Horticultural
Interpreter Charles Day demonstrates simple floral techniques and provides plenty of materials to fuel your creative spirit. Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $30/$20 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP WEEKEND: FELT TREASURE BOX

Hand-stitch a cozy felt box with a lid to hold your holiday trinkets and treasures. Artist Maria Hupfield assists
participants in crafting a small box using a combination of industrial
grey and color felt pieces. Personalize your box using colorful thread,
ribbons and other embellishments. An excellent gift for all ages! Children eight and older welcome with an adult. $20/$10 Wave Hill Member per project. Registration suggested but not required, online at www.wavehill.org, onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 11AM–3PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 MEDITATION

This
fall, take a moment to release stress and reconnect with your inner
self while practicing meditation. Each session includes instruction in
simple techniques followed by 20 to 30 minutes of meditation. Led by
Yoga for Bliss director Neem Dewji and other qualified instructors. All levels welcome. Session fee: $23/Wave Hill Member $15. Registration online only at www.wavehill.org.MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11:30AM‒12:45PM

SUN, DECEMBER 8 GARDEN & CONSERVATORY HIGHLIGHTS WALK

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

MON, DECEMBER 9

Closed to the public.

A
28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River
and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and
legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views,
and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs
in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM—4:30PM. Closes 5:30PM, March 15—October 31.

ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6—18. Free Saturday mornings until noon. Free all day on Tuesdays in December. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

DIRECTIONS
– Getting here is easy! Located only 3o minutes from midtown Manhattan,
Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate
and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the 242nd
Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available
for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with
continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot
and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Today was the November Bronx Borough Board Meeting. There were three things on the agenda for today's meeting.

Item #1 - A presentation by the Taxi & Limousine Commission in the new "Green Outer Boro Taxi"

This presentation was given as it has and will be at the local community board level. there were minimal questions as to which fare would be cheaper. The current flat fee or the new metered fare. Mr. Gordon of TLC Policy Affairs said that most likely it is the metered fare as most trips are short. Another question was the timing of how the new taxi's is going to be. 6,000 each year over the next three years, and 20 percent to be wheelchair accessible. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. commended the TLC on this new Green taxi program saying that he was one of many people who had input into the process.

Item #2 - Was a presentation by Mr. Ricky Wong if the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs on Information and Tips for Holiday Season Shopping. Mr. Wong handed out a pamphlet with 10 points to know going over a few such as the Store Refund Policy, when a receipt has to be given, credit card limits, and to go to the DCA website at www.nyc.gov/consumers for more information. BP Diaz asked if the DCA handles the current Shop And Frisk issue in some stores, and was told that is handled by the Department of Human Rights. Councilman Oliver Koppell complimented DCA on the hand out, but said that while the outside of the hand out is in normal size print the inside is in much to small print for someone like him to read. Koppell joked that it was as big as the printing on the recent ballot on election day that was to small for most people to read.

Item #3 - A vote by the Bronx Borough Board on the agreement between the NYC Department of Economic Development and the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) for a 99 year lease of the Kingsbridge Armory as a hockey and Ice Skating Arena.

An overview presentation by Ernesto Padron of NYCDEC of the proposal led to a discussion of the benefits to not only the area of the Kingsbridge Armory, but the entire borough of the Bronx. Councilmen Andy King, Oliver Koppell and Fernando Cabrera were in attendance and each spoke on the proposal. BP Diaz spoke of his visits to Philadelphia where a similar program was started by a former professional hockey Player that has given minority children chances of learning how to ice skate and play ice hockey that they never had the opportunity to have. Diaz continued on how the children and their parents adhere to the rules, such as good grades, good attendance, and good behavior so the children can play on the ice.

Councilman Andy King thanked BP Diaz for his leadership in this project, and said that he use to go to the old ice skating Rink on Broadway in the Riverdale area in his youth. King added that he is a Knick fan no matter how you spell it. King said he was voting for the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

Councilman Oliver Koppell said that this is the most exciting proposal for the Bronx in his 40 years of elected office, and that while he is the neighboring district that he had wanted a sports complex to be places in the armory for many man y years. Koppell said that he would be voting yes on the proposal.

Councilman Fernando Cabrera was much more subdued in his comments by saying only that he would vote yes on this proposal today and encourage his fellow council members to vote yes when the proposal comes before the City Council as a final step to approval.Up to this point Councilman Cabrera was the lone holdout on the KNIC proposal.

Left - Councilman Cabrera and Community Board 8 Chair Robert Fanuzzi chat as Councilman Oliver watches in the background.

Right - Councilman Cabrera speaks and then quickly leaves after the vote is over.

Left & Right BP Diaz speaking about why this proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory should be approved.

Diaz would say after the vote by the Borough Board

“Today’s vote will facilitate the
construction of a world class skating, community and educational
facility that will be the catalyst for positive redevelopment not just
in the surrounding community, but across the borough,” said Borough
President Diaz.

The
10-0 vote of the Bronx Borough Board included three City Council
Members—Fernando Cabrera, G. Oliver Koppell and Andy King—who attended
the meeting to offer their support for the project in person.

“The
Kingsbridge National Ice Center promises to not only bring living wage
jobs to the community, but also provide world class facilities that will
benefit our youth here in the Bronx, the City of New York and the
surrounding region. As I have said numerous times, this project
is going to have a tremendous positive impact on not just the Northwest
Bronx but the entire borough, and I am proud to support the development
of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center,” said Borough President Diaz.

The Community Benefits Agreement has been signed by dozens of neighborhood organizations and community partners representing thousands of residents in the Northwest Bronx that support the project.

“The
Mayor’s math doesn’t add up. The facts are clear, not only will the
next Administration not inherit a balanced budget but it will also be
greeted on Day 1 with a fiscal
mess of historic proportions – 300,000 employees working with expired
contracts.

“Mayor
Bloomberg’s final budget modification continues to conceal huge fiscal
risks and rely on one-shots like selling City property and depleting the
Retiree Health Benefit
Trust. His budget may seem balanced on paper, but the fiscal reality
points to multi-billion-dollar budget gaps on the fiscal horizon.”

Background:

There
is a multi-billion dollar budgetary risk associated with the fact that
all City unions are currently working under
expired contracts. The Bloomberg Administration’s negotiating position
with the unions does not include retroactive pay for any contract
settlement. The current financial plan includes funding for a settlement
of a five-year contract in which the first three
years would have no increases followed by two years of 1.25% increases.
The unions have all rejected this proposal. Any wage increases above
and beyond the funding already in the financial plan would need to be
funded through increased revenues or decreased
services.

An
analysis by the Comptroller’s office has found that if all unions
agreed to a minimal 1% increase a year over the five-year
term of the contract, the City would need to fund $1.3 billion in retro
pay. If the wage increase were instead linked to inflation, this
number could balloon to $3.1 billion. These numbers are on top of the
potential $3.5 billion in retroactive wages that
the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Council of School
Supervisors & Administrators (CSA) members are seeking.

As Two Ad Firms Prepare for Mega-Merger, NYC Funds Ask Them to DiscloseTheir Employee Composition and Demonstrate Diversity

City
Comptroller John C. Liu today announced that he has called on the
boards of two advertising firms, Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) and Publicis Groupe
(PUB: FP), to disclose the makeup of
their employees across a range of titles by gender and ethnicity before
shareowners vote on their proposed merger.

“These
companies operate in an industry with an abysmal record of hiring and
promoting women and minorities, particularly African Americans.
They claim they care about diversity and are making progress, but
unless they disclose the actual makeup of their employees it’s
impossible to know whether it’s just empty talk,” Comptroller Liu said.
“Studies have demonstrated that workplace diversity leads
to innovation and innovation increases value. We want these firms to
prosper by hiring the best and brightest and we expect them to
demonstrate that they pay more than lip service to equal opportunity
employment.”

The
advertising industry, like the financial services industry, has a
history of wide and pervasive employment disparities, particularly among
senior positions. One 2009 study found that racial disparity is 38
percent worse in the advertising industry than in the overall U.S. labor
market, and that the “discrimination divide” between advertising and
other U.S. industries is more than twice as wide
as it was 30 years ago.

Omnicom
and Publicis have both declined Comptroller Liu’s past requests that
they disclose the composition of their workforce by race and gender.
The pending Omnicom-Publicis merger heightens the need for disclosure.
The merger will not only create an advertising behemoth; it will create
the least transparent major ad firm in the world, by combining the two
firms that have consistently refused to demonstrate
their commitment to equal employment opportunities.

Despite
the companies’ assurances that they have existing diversity programs,
their refusal to provide employment data makes it impossible
for shareowners to determine managements’ effectiveness in this
important area. Meanwhile, the other global ad giants, Interpublic
(NYSE: IPG) and WPP Group (WPP: LN), have taken steps to disclose annual
data on the diversity of their employees.

BACKGROUND

In
Nov. 2011, on behalf of the NYC Funds, Comptroller Liu wrote several
advertising firms — Omnicom, Publicis, Interpublic, and WPP — to ask
they disclose employment data.

When
Comptroller Liu filed this request in the form of a shareholder
proposal at Omnicom, the company tried and failed to exclude it from
their
2012 annual meeting. At that meeting, 33.8% of voting shares backed
the NYC Funds’ proposal, which was the highest ever vote on such a
proposal. Despite broad shareowner support, Omnicom declined to provide
employment disclosures even as its peers have done
so.

Hundreds of members of the Bronx community to rally in support of the proposed Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) and the project’s historic Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

Community leaders, local officials and clergy to urge swift, final approval of the KNIC project by the NY City Council. Former NY Rangers captain and KNIC CEO, Mark Messier, will attend along with Sarah Hughes, Olympic figure skating gold medalist.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC), proposed for the iconic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, would be the largest indoor ice sports facility in the world. With nine year-round rinks, including a 5,000-seat center show-rink, KNIC would be an international sporting destination, drawing more than 2 million visits a year.

KNIC will welcome first-time skaters and champion athletes alike, with recreational skating, private and group instruction, training, rehearsals and competitions all under one giant, historic roof. Educational and athletic programs led by New York Rangers legend Mark Messier and Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Sarah Hughes will make ice sports accessible and exciting for young people in the surrounding community with free instruction, equipment and ice time. And with special events including local, regional, national and international tournaments, camps, competitions and shows, this world-class facility will become a global center of hockey, figure skating, speed skating, synchronized skating, ice dancing and even curling.

On April 17, 2013 the KNIC development team entered into an unprecedented Community Benefits Agreement with twenty-seven signatories offering living wage jobs, 50,000 square feet of community space, a business incubator, programs for children, and a number of other commitments.

The new Bronx
LGBTQ Center (the “Center”)
appreciates Cardinal Spellman High School's
decision, as reported by The New York Times, to postpone the talk
scheduled to be delivered by Rev. Donald Timone at its school on
Tuesday evening. We believe that the interests of Spellman's
community are better served by a balanced presentation that includes
all views on this sensitive subject, including views that affirm and
accept youth and their sexuality as they are.

"We
would like to reiterate our desire to open a constructive dialogue
with the school to talk about LGBTQ issues in ways that won't cause
harm. We have been working with a number of organizations and
individuals who would support such efforts that would hopefully
result in a positive outcome,"
Tym Moss, the
Center's president stated.

"We
thank all of the Cardinal Spellman HS alumni, as well as those who
contacted us to express their views -- one way or the other -- on
this sensitive issue. Our focus and goal was and remains that no
person come to any harm as a result of discussions surrounding LGBTQ
issues. The school's action in postponing this talk is a positive
move that provides hope in achieving this goal,"
Peter C. Frank, the
Center's secretary, said.